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Rob49 has spoken about the negative reception Justin Bieber‘s verse got on his “WTHelly” remix, and tells Billboard he doesn’t know if he’s gonna drop it.
The New Orleans rapper speaks about his new album, Let Me Fly, and touches on the divisive reception he got after teasing an unreleased remix of “WTHelly” featuring Biebs. After teasing the song on a Twitch livestream with the streamer Reggie, fans were quick to clown the pop star for trying to turn a lighthearted track into a soulful ballad. Rob said after speaking with Justin, he doesn’t know if he’ll officially release it to the public.
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“I talked to Justin a couple of days ago and he was telling me he wanted to do some more songs, so I don’t know,” Rob says when when discussing whether he’ll drop off the remix. “It’s funny, when he first did it he was like, ‘What you think? You think I can go harder?’ I told him like, ‘Man, I love it bro, if you feel comfortable about it, if you like it, then I love it.’ You know? I just told him, ‘If you like it you like it.”
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When asked about whether he was surprised the verse was so divisive, Rob shares, “No, not really. I knew it was a possibility because, it was the same way when he asked me, ‘Do you think I can go harder?’”
Rob admits that he knew the singing aspect of Bieber’s verse would turn some heads, and said that’s just how it goes when trying to make a hit record.
“You just never know what it’s gonna be, and fans don’t understand that all the time,” he says. “That you don’t know what a hit is! Like it just kinda happens. Some people might’ve been like, ‘Oh my god he sung!’ and if it would have been a hit, it would have been a crazy banger. That be the difference between songs.”
However, Rob says other “WTHelly” remixes will soon see the light of day, and that the G Herbo revamp will be the first to arrive.
“I was gonna drop the [remix] with [G Herbo] first and add it to the album, but we wound up doing it too late,” Rob says of why it wasn’t on Let Me Fly. “So it might come out the next day on the album, then we’re just gonna go from there with it.”
Let Me Fly drops Friday (May 23) and includes features from Birdman, Meek Mill, Sexyy Red, Quavo, Polo G and Fridayy.
Billboard’s Dance Moves roundup serves as a guide to the biggest movers and shakers across Billboard’s many dance charts — new No. 1s, new top 10s, first-timers and more.
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This week, on charts dated May 24, Mau P, Zach Martino, Calvin Harris and others achieve new feats. Check out key movers below.
Mau P
Mau P earns his first-ever No. 1 on a Billboard chart this week, as his remix of Tame Impala’s “The Less I Know the Better” jumps 5-1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. Released in February via Nervous Records, the song hits No. 1 with a 31% surge in plays among 24/7 dance reporters and pop stations’ mix show hours, according to Luminate.
The remix reimagines Tame Impala’s 2015 psych-pop staple from its album Currents, which ruled the Top Alternative Albums and reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The original track was a fan favorite, reaching No. 35 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and No. 37 on Alternative Airplay.
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Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, credited as the sole writer, collects his third No. 1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay, following two smashes with Dua Lipa in 2024: “Houdini” (four weeks at No. 1) and “Illusion” (five weeks). He also reached the chart as a writer on Lady Gaga’s “Perfect Illusion” in 2016 (No. 28 peak).
As for Mau P (also known as Maurice West), the Amsterdam-born DJ scores his first No. 1. He previously appeared on Dance/Mix Show Airplay with “Drugs From Amsterdam” (No. 16 peak; 2023) and “On Again” (No. 24; 2024). He’s also charted four entries on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: “Drugs From Amsterdam” (No. 25), “Gimme That Bounce” (No. 35; 2023), “Receipts,” with Diplo featuring Gunna (No. 24; 2024), and “The Less I Know the Better” (No. 14).
Mau P has been active in the house and techno worlds for nearly a decade. He’s collaborated with other dance heavyweights, including Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris and Armand van Helden.
Zack Martino, JAYEM & Aviella
Zack Martino, JAYEM and Aviella debut on this week’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart with their collaborative single, “Afterlove.” Released in December on Liftoff Recordings, the song arrives at No. 31, earning the week’s highest debut, with a 32% spike in plays.
The song earns Martino his fifth career chart entry, and first since 2020’s “Something About You,” featuring Kifi (No. 33 peak). He first cracked the chart in 2018 with “Hold On to Me,” which climbed to No. 3.
“Afterlove” is also a milestone for New York City-based DJ JAYEM (real name Justin Mondello), as the song marks his first-ever appearance on Billboard’s charts. “[Charting on Billboard has been] a dream of mine I’ve been longing to achieve ever since I started producing music,” he shared in a post on Instagram. “It’s an honor to be on such a prestigious chart alongside artist[s] I’ve looked up to my whole career.”
For Aviella, the song earns the singer-songwriter her fourth career entry on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. She topped the chart with her debut hit in 2021, “Tell Me What You’re Thinking.”
Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas
Calvin Harris’ “Blessings,” featuring Clementine Douglas, debuts at No. 3 on the latest Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, marking the highest debut of the week. It opens with 2.9 million U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads sold earned in its opening week (May 9-15).
The song earns Calvin Harris his 54th career entry on the chart, and 25th top 10 — the third-most in the chart’s history after David Guetta and Kygo (27 each). It’s also his record-extending 14th top five hit.
As for Douglas, the song is her third career entry on the chart, after “Miracle Maker” with Dom Dolla (No. 35 peak; 2022), and “Asking” with Sonny Fodera and MK (No. 44; 2023).
PinkPantheress
PinkPantheress’ new mixtape Fancy That, released via 300/AG, debuts at No. 4 on the latest Top Dance Albums chart with 14,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week (May 9-15). It also opens at No. 72 on the Billboard 200 and No. 21 on Vinyl Albums.
PinkPantheress has charted two other albums on Billboard’s charts, but neither appeared on Billboard’s dance rankings: To Hell With It reached No. 73 on the Billboard 200 in 2021 and Heaven Knows peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard 200 in 2023.
Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke
The duo’s new electronic/ambient project, Tall Tales, debuts at No. 14 on the Top Dance Albums chart with 4,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week.
The album earns Pritchard his second career entry on Top Dance Albums, after his solo album Under the Sun in 2016 (No. 15 peak). It’s Yorke’s fourth entry, after The Eraser Rmxs (No. 13; 2009), Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes (No. 13; 2015) and Anima (No. 1; 2019).
Billboard’s Producer Spotlight series highlights creatives currently charting on Billboard’s producer rankings. Whether they are new to the industry or have been churning out hit after hit, the intention is to showcase where they are now, and their work that’s having a chart impact.
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Longtime hard rock producer Carl Bown scores a career milestone on Billboard’s latest charts (dated May 24), thanks to his work on Sleep Token’s breakout album, Even in Arcadia.
The band reaches unprecedented heights this week, as the album debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 127,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in its first week, according to Luminate. Concurrently, all 10 tracks from the album land on the Billboard Hot 100, making Sleep Token the first hard rock act in history to chart as many as 10 songs simultaneously in a single week.
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Here’s a full breakdown of Sleep Token’s entries on the Hot 100:
No. 56, “Dangerous” (debut)
No. 57, “Caramel” (re-entry; peaked at No. 34)
No. 58, “Emergence” (re-entry; peaked at No. 57)
No. 61, “Even in Arcadia” (debut)
No. 66, “Look to Windward” (debut)
No. 70, “Past Self” (debut)
No. 72, “Damocles” (re-entry; peaked at No. 47)
No. 75, “Gethsemane” (debut)
No. 77, “Provider” (debut)
No. 100, “Infinite Baths” (debut)
Bown is credited as the sole producer on all 10 tracks, propelling him to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Producers chart for the first time in his career. He also claims the top spot on Rock Producers, Alternative Producers, Hard Rock Producers, and Rock & Alternative Producers.
Bown, a veteran of the U.K. hard rock scene, has been a go-to producer for many of the genre’s biggest names. He’s also worked with Bullet for My Valentine, Bring Me the Horizon, While She Sleeps, Gunship, Pendulum and Trivium, among others.
Before teaming up with Sleep Token, Bown had only appeared on Billboard’s song charts with four singles by Bullet for My Valentine:
“You Want a Battle? (Here’s a War)”: No. 37 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, No. 46 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2015)
“Don’t Need You”: No. 49 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2016)
“Knives”: No. 16 on Hot Hard Rock Songs, No. 39 Mainstream Rock Airplay (2021)
“Shatter”: No. 24 on Hot Hard Rock Songs (2021)
Based in Manchester, U.K., Bown is also the founder and owner of Treehouse Studios in Chesterfield, a popular recording hub for many of the records he’s helmed.
Meanwhile, two of Sleep Token’s members, Vessel I and Vessel II, also achieve a notable feat. They rank at Nos. 1 and 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters chart, respectively. Known for their anonymity, the cloaked and masked artists have remained publicly unidentified. Vessel I is credited as a writer on all 10 of the band’s Hot 100 entries, while Vessel II is credited on eight.
Billboard launched its songwriters and producers charts in June 2019, including those for individual genres. The charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on their respective “Hot” or “Top” chart. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).
The full Songwriters and Producers charts, plus those for other genres, can be found on Billboard.com.
Miley Cyrus just gave fans a new look into the world of Something Beautiful, with the pop star unveiling her visual album film’s official trailer — featuring a snippet of an unreleased song — on Thursday (May 22). Posted three weeks ahead of the movie’s theatrical release, the trailer opens with Cyrus cloaked in a […]
The winner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is speaking out against the war in Gaza and Israel’s inclusion in the global music event. JJ, who won the competition May 17, said in an interview published Thursday (May 22) that he would like to see Israel banned from next year’s contest.
“It is very disappointing to see Israel still participating in the contest,” the singer told Spanish publication El Pais, according to Reuters. “I would like the next Eurovision to be held in Vienna and without Israel.”
Billboard has reached out to Eurovision Song Contest for comment.
The global songwriting competition bills itself as “a non-political event,” with its rules noting that participating broadcasters are expected to take any necessary steps to ensure that their delegations and teams “safeguard the interests and the integrity of the ESC and to make sure that the ESC shall in no case be politicized and/or instrumentalized and/or otherwise brought into disrepute in any way.”
JJ — a classically trained countertenor — won this year’s event with his song “Wasted Love,” which combines opera with techno. The artist born Johannes Pietsch is Austria’s first winner since drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014.
Snagging second place was Yuval Raphael of Israel, who earned the runner-up position with her “New Day Will Rise” anthem and also won the viewers’ votes in the finale. (When jury votes were taken into consideration, they put JJ in the No. 1 spot.) According to the Associated Press, while Raphael had much public support in the form of voting, she faced pro-Palestinian protests that called for Israel’s ouster from the competition over the Israel-Hamas war. The current war started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked several locations in Israel, including the Nova Music Festival near Gaza — which Raphael survived — killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. Since then, the Israeli government’s military campaign has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians in Gaza, Reuters reports.
Raphael coming in second prompted some countries — including Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Iceland — to question the voting, with some requesting an audit, the BBC reported on Wednesday (May 21). Organizers have since said that the votes were independently verified.
In his El Pais interview, JJ also said that the vote-counting system needs to change to better improve transparency, Reuters reported.
“It is important to emphasize that the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world and each country’s result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns,” ESC’s director Martin Green said in response to the questioning of the vote counts, according to the BBC. “An independent compliance monitor reviews both jury and public vote data to ensure we have a valid result. … Our voting partner Once has confirmed that a valid vote was recorded in all countries participating in this year’s Grand Final and in the Rest of the World.”
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to be held in Vienna, Austria.
Nigerian street star Seyi Vibez has partnered with EMPIRE on new music, and released a new single called “Pressure” as part of the new deal.
The song, more low-key than the gritty street vibe on which the artist has built his career thus far, “is a complete shift from my usual sound,” Seyi Vibez said in a statement announcing the release. “It leans into melody, intimacy and raw emotion. It’s smoother, softer and more intentional. I wanted to show my range, to prove that I can give you fire and tenderness in the same breath. This track is about the quiet power of love and attention. Sometimes the loudest statement is how you move when no one’s watching. That’s real pressure.”
Still just 24, Seyi Vibez burst onto the Nigerian music scene in 2022 with debut album Billion Dollar Baby, mixing a variety of genres and styles into his own sound that captured the rhythms of his neighborhood in Lagos. Since then, he has proved prolific, dropping a series of singles, albums and EPs, most recently February’s Children of Africa, which saw all four of its songs reach the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, and his catalog has racked up north of 400 million on-demand streams in the U.S. alone, according to Luminate. Along the way, he’s collaborated with the likes of Burna Boy, Olamide, Young Jonn, Kizz Daniel, BNXN, Russ and NLE Choppa, among others.
“We are happy to partner with Seyi Vibez, an artist whose vocal dexterity and versatility truly stand out,” said Mobolaji Kareem, EMPIRE’s regional head of West Africa, in a statement. “He is a great fit and we look forward to helping his continued growth as a global artist.”
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“I’m stepping into this new chapter with the spirit of my ancestors,” added Seyi. “I carry the energy of Orisa: the guardian, the protector, the voice of the city.”
Check out the new song below.
Orfeón, one of the longest-standing indie labels in Latin America, announced on Thursday (May 22) that it has entered a strategic alliance with label and distribution company ONErpm.
The collaboration aims to “strengthen” the digital presence of Orfeón’s music catalog, made up of seven decades of recordings including more than 300 artists and 150,000 songs ranging from bolero, ranchera, danzón, mambo, tropical pop and rock & roll. Orfeón — previously distributed by Warner Music — has been home to legendary artists including Pedro Infante, Celia Cruz, Agustín Lara, Chavela Vargas, Javier Solís, Lola Beltrán and Toña la Negra.
“In this restructuring of Orfeón, we have sought the best partner today for digital distribution,” Edmundo Monroy, CEO of Fórmula Music Group, tells Billboard. “ONErpm presented us with the best option in technology, the best option in development with streaming platforms, the best analytics, and today it seems, for us, the best company to distribute our music globally. We have been talking for months and now we’re entering a new era to maximize Latin American music around the world.”
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The alliance is more than just a distribution deal. It also includes marketing plans that aim to expand Orfeón’s catalog to new markets and a new generation of music fans, adds Adriaan Glastra, GM of ONErpm Mexico.
“Orfeón has a historic catalog, and being part of Grupo Formula they have an enormous reach, plus they are also launching new artists, we were obviously pursuing this [partnership],” says Glastra. “There is a synergy we have with them, which will lead to growth on both sides. We have a lot of plans to bring this historical catalog, all the stuff they are set to release in the future, to new generations.”
The first release under the new alliance will be a Lupita D’Alessio album recorded with a symphonic orchestra live from the Arena Cuidad de México. It will be out Friday (May 23) with a vinyl component set to be released soon after.
BTS’ Jin made a triumphant return to U.S. late-night television this week, delivering a stirring performance of his new single “Don’t Say You Love Me” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (aired May 21).
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The appearance marked Jin’s first U.S. promo stop since the release of his sophomore solo album Echo and comes just months after completing his mandatory military service in South Korea.
Taking the stage with signature poise, Jin performed the emotional ballad under soft, moody lighting, accompanied by a live band and backing vocalists. His warm yet melancholic tone filled the studio as he sang the reflective lyrics from “Don’t Say You Love Me,” a track that has quickly become a standout on Echo, which dropped last Friday (May 16).
Before the performance, Jin joined Fallon for a light-hearted interview segment that included a comedic role reversal, with Jin briefly acting as the show’s emcee.
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When asked about his next chapter as a solo artist, Jin shared details about his upcoming Hi-Seokjin fan tour. “You might be expecting my vocal skills, but I hope you’re most excited to see my face up close,” he joked with a smile.
The Hi-Seokjin event series kicks off this Friday in New York City, where Jin will meet with 1,000 fans for an exclusive concert and fan interaction. He’ll then return to South Korea to play two sold-out shows in Goyang on May 28 and 29, with additional Asian dates expected to follow.
Echo has already topped the iTunes charts in over 60 countries and received early critical praise for its blend of tender ballads and experimental production.
“Don’t Say You Love Me” serves as the centerpiece of the project, showcasing Jin’s evolution as a solo vocalist and storyteller.
Jin previously appeared on The Tonight Show in November 2024 to perform “Running Wild,” a track from his debut solo EP. His return signals a strong re-entry into the global spotlight as he prepares to embark on his first official fan tour, while BTS continue to pursue solo activities during their staggered enlistment period.
Mariah Carey and Pitbull are returning to Australia this October as headliners of Fridayz Live 2025, the revived touring festival celebrating R&B, hip-hop and pop.
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Announced Thursday (May 22), the stadium run will also feature sets from Wiz Khalifa, Lil Jon, Eve, Tinie Tempah and Jordin Sparks. It marks Fridayz Live’s first edition since 2023, and organizers MG Live and the Hit Network are calling this year’s return “bigger than ever.”
The four-city tour kicks off Oct. 17 at Brisbane Showgrounds, followed by Sydney’s ENGIE Stadium on Oct. 18, Langley Park in Perth on Oct. 24, and Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Oct. 25. Events are all 18+ except for selected licensed all-ages areas in Sydney and Melbourne.
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Carey’s appearance marks her first Australian performance in over a decade, having last toured the country in 2013. The five-time Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper — whose enduring hits include “Fantasy,” “We Belong Together”, and “Touch My Body” — will bring her vocal powerhouse status to a new generation of fans.
Joining her is fellow Billboard icon Pitbull, returning to Australia for the first time since 2012. The Miami rapper — known as “Mr. Worldwide” — boasts over 100 million single sales globally and is behind hits like “Give Me Everything,” “Timber”, and “Hotel Room Service.”
Fridayz Live will also showcase hip-hop heavyweight Wiz Khalifa, who charted 11 Hot 100 entries in 2011 alon, crunk pioneer Lil Jon, known best for anthems like “Turn Down for What,” will also return while Eve — one of the defining female MCs of the 2000s — brings her chart-topping hits and GRAMMY-winning collaborations.
Also joining the bill are UK rapper Tinie Tempah (“Pass Out,” “Written in the Stars”) and pop vocalist Jordin Sparks, whose breakout single “No Air” with Chris Brown peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 in 2008.
There will be no sideshows or encore dates, with promoters emphasizing that fans will only have one chance to catch this full lineup in each city.
Presales begin May 26 for Telstra Plus members, followed by ANZ Circle pre-sales on May 29, a general Fridayz Live pre-sale on May 30, and general public onsale June 2.
The Modfather himself, Paul Weller, has announced the release of his latest covers record, Find El Dorado.
Set for release on July 25, the 15-track collection of songs sees Weller looking to an eclectic list of artists, including the Bee Gees, The Kinks, Richie Havens, Christy Moore, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and more.
“These are songs I’ve carried with me for years,” Weller said in a statement. “They’ve taken on new shapes over time. And now felt like the moment to share them.”
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Additionally, the album also features a number of talented guest musicians, including the likes of Oasis’ Noel Gallagher and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. Other guests include Hannah Peel, Declan O’Rourke, Amelia Coburn and Seckou Keita.
Alongside the announcement of the record, Weller has also shared two tracks as a preview of what to expect. The first of these is “Lawdy Rolla,” the 1969 A-side to the only studio release from obscure French outfit The Guerrillas; and “Pinball,” the title track to English multi hyphenate Brian Protheroe’s 1974 debut.
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News of the forthcoming record arrives almost one year to the day since Weller’s last album, 66, which arrived on May 24, 2024 – one day before his 66th birthday. El Dorado is also his first record of covers since 2004’s Studio 150, which featured tracks written by the likes of Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Noel Gallagher.
Paul Weller – El Dorado Tracklist:
1. “Handouts in the Rain” (Richie Havens)2. “Small Town Talk” (Bobby Charles)3. “El Dorado” (Eamon Friel)4. “White Line Fever” (The Flying Burrito Brothers)5. “One Last Cold Kiss” (Christy Moore)6. “When You Are a King” (White Plains)7. “Pinball” (Brian Protheroe)8. “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” (Willie Griffin)9. “I Started a Joke” (Bee Gees)10. “Never the Same” (Lal and Mike Waterson)11. “Lawdy Rolla” (The Guerrillas)12. “Nobody’s Fool” (The Kinks)13. “Journey” (Duncan Browne)14. “Daltry Street” (Jake Fletcher/PP Arnold)15. “Clive’s Song” (Hamish Imlach)
